Author |
Farm Kitchen: What are you drying? |
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Dec 27 2019 : 11:27:34 PM
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Sara's Impressed by you both and all you dry. It is interesting how different things are harvested. We have black walnut trees. My dad will sit and crack them. They are very strong, so we did discover that if you bake them for a bit, they mellow out. We just freeze the meats. We use them sparingly in baked goods. It is a good feeling knowing where they come from.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2019 : 02:32:26 AM
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If I'm dehydrating herbs, fruits or vegetables that i dont intend on using right way, i vacuum seal the jars with my foodsaver. I love my foodsaver. For some things i might throw a silica pack in the jar without vacuum sealing it.
Vintage Sewing Machines, Original Parts & Related Book Titles - http://www.thriftyfarmgirl.com/
Handcrafted Artisan Soap https://www.etsy.com/shop/naturemaiden
Lil' Chefs Cookbook- Delicious Recipes for Toy Ovens - http://www.vintage-toy-ovens.com/
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2019 : 02:35:23 AM
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Michelle do the walnuts stain your hands?
A little off subject: Nut meats can be used to cover scratches on wood from same nut tree. Pecan meat on pecan wood - walnut meat on walnut wood.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2019 : 03:04:13 AM
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Connie we must have been posting at the same time. I've thought about getting a vacuum sealer but didn't know how much I would actually use it. May look into getting one in the coming year. Love how much I learn from my FarmGirl sisters.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2019 : 03:20:38 AM
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Hi Sara, I usually cook for more than one day, and so i freeze extra meals in individual containers that i buy in bulk. Once the meals are frozen i remove the lids and place the bowls into a quart size food saver bag and i vacuum seal them. I then fill our extra freezer with the meals. When i dont feel like cooking, i tell everyone to go to the freezer to pick something. Great for storm readiness too. We have a generator if we need to keep the freezer running during an outage. Nothing like a home cooked meal when you dont have power for days. We also buy larger packs of meat, divide them up and vacuum seal them. Prevents freezer burn. I also like to vacuum seal dried goods when storing them long term. I have a lot of prep food storage in case of emergencies. The foodsaver is great for preppers. Mine also has a hose and i bought an adapter so i can vacuum seal mason jars.
Vintage Sewing Machines, Original Parts & Related Book Titles - http://www.thriftyfarmgirl.com/
Handcrafted Artisan Soap https://www.etsy.com/shop/naturemaiden
Lil' Chefs Cookbook- Delicious Recipes for Toy Ovens - http://www.vintage-toy-ovens.com/
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2381 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2381 Posts |
Posted - Dec 28 2019 : 10:42:27 AM
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The vacuum food savers are great. DH uses them for the wild game. Just double check that it has sealed all the way. When we first started using it we found a few that hadn't sealed completely.
Judith
7932 Happiness is Homemade |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2020 : 04:51:38 AM
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I'm playing PBS American Test Kitchen this morning. I was given 2 jars of 38oz Pace picante sauce so I am experimenting with drying it. First I drained half of a jar and it is now spread out on parchment paper in the dehydrator. When it is dried I will see how it does in the blender. Hope to have picante powder.
The picante sauce is the original kind and I'm thinking the chunky kind would probably dry better so now all I can do now is wait and see. It does smell good.
I'll freeze the juice, after draining, in ice cube trays and then put in freezer bags. Should be good in soup & stew.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2020 : 10:25:07 AM
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First batch of picante sauce has been dried, ground in blender and it's a success. When it got to the fine powder with flakes as big as ground black pepper I stopped grinding. I like a mix of texture in tomato powders. A coffee grinder should work too.
Will work on second batch in the morning. Have to reline the trays with parchment paper.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2381 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2020 : 12:27:16 PM
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Sara -- good luck in your test kitchen. I hope it works; freeze dried picante sauce would be great for camping or backpacking. I once had the idea of freeze dried beer for backpackers -- oe packet of beer flavoring and one packet of alcohol. Just add water. My family thought it was a strange idea for me as I don't drink.
Judith
7932 Happiness is Homemade |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2020 : 10:46:09 AM
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Judith, you made me laugh! |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2020 : 11:02:42 AM
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My drier has been full of diced yellow onions. At the end of our Christmas basket giveaway at the food closet we had 150 pounds of onions left over, many of them damaged from being moved from place to place. As I was sorting out the bad ones and bemoaning their loss, I suddenly thought, I could cut out the good parts of these, dry them at home and bring them back to give away as dried onions! So I’m working about 25 lbs through my ten trays. They are drying nicely, I just hope I can find people who are adventurous enough to try something new! |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2020 : 03:53:46 AM
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Sara, I wonder how many pounds of dried onions you will end up with? 3? that is my guess. lol I am getting a new seal for my food saver. I have not used it much lately, as it won't shut off and seal. Will see if this helps, or I may need a new one. I used to use it all the time. I would like to seal herbs and such, as you ladies have suggested.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2020 : 07:18:03 AM
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Gosh, I doubt I’ll have more than a pound Michele!
I like the food saver too. But I do have to make a second seal sometimes because one small portion didn’t seal.
Did you find you can order a part and replace it yourself? |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2020 : 07:25:28 AM
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Sara great job on doing the work to dry the onions for others.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2020 : 03:01:55 AM
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Food saver is actually sending a new gasket free of charge. We had emailed them asking for the correct part number. They said sorry for their slow response(it was over a weekend) and they would send free. They only charge 3 dollars for the gasket. Not sure it will fix the problem as my unit is old. It is a foam gasket, and I pulled the old one out. Will have to clean the plastic then put the new one in. Finger crossed it will work.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2020 : 07:01:07 AM
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Michelle, hope the gasket does the trick. I like dealing with companies who practice good customer service.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2020 : 03:21:48 AM
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definitely they went above and beyond.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4313 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4313 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2020 : 03:03:12 AM
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Got the seal for the food savor yesterday. My husband cleaned the area where it goes, and set it in place. Tested it when I got home from work. It works again!!!! So happy, and such a simple fix. Glad that was all it took. Time to stock up on bags again.
Farming in WI
Michele FGOTM June2019
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2020 : 05:15:04 AM
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"It works" two of the best words to hear. Happy for you.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2020 : 8:45:13 PM
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Today a woman at the food closet was so happy to find the dried onions.
It’s always humbling to meet a person in a moment of need, expressing gratitude for simple things.
I need to try to express gratitude more often. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2020 : 8:55:41 PM
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Sara, makes me smile to hear your onions were what she needed & wanted. I'm with you on showing more gratitude. I forget from time to time to be thankful for my blessings. And it's important to acknowledge our thanks out loud even if we are alone.
I'm watching the grocery ads for mushrooms and cabbage to be on sale. I used a handful of the dried cabbage in veg soup this week and I think the rest of the quart won't last long because I really like it. And it's hard to keep home canned mushroom broth on the shelve. I seem to use it as much as my chicken broth. I use both dried & fresh mushrooms in making the broth.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2020 : 9:44:45 PM
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Right now, the only thing drying in my house is my skin! Eghads winter is rough! LOL! Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7108 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7108 Posts |
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2020 : 12:15:53 PM
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Hmmm. Sounds like an interesting experiment.
I haven’t yet made mushroom broth, but I do save and use the broth created when I need to reconstitute dried mushrooms. |
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Farm Kitchen: What are you drying? |
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